Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of xylazine alone (0.05 mg/kg), lignocaine alone (2.0 mg/kg) and a combination of xylazine and lignocaine (0.05 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively) after lumbar epidural administration in water buffalo calves. Fifteen nondescript, male water buffalo calves of 6-8 months of age and weighing between 55 and 75 kg were randomly placed in 3 groups (A, B and C). The agents were administered at the 1st lumbar epidural space. Clinico-physiological parameters such as analgesia, ataxia, sedation, salivation, heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were studied. Other haematological and biochemical parameters monitored were haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total leukocyte count, plasma glucose, cortisol, protein albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT, sodium, potassium and chloride. The onset of analgesia was faster in group C (3.0 +/- 0.44 min) compared with that of group B (4.4 +/- 0.40 min) and group A (34.0 +/- 1.86 min). Analgesia of the thorax, flank, inguinal region, hind limbs, perineum and tail was complete in group C, but mild to moderate in groups A and B. Ataxia was severe in groups B and C and mild in group A. Mild to deep sedation were produced by groups A and C animals. Longer duration and greater depth of analgesia was produced in animals in group C. Heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature decreased in groups A and C. The haematological parameters decreased in all the groups. The biochemical parameters like glucose, cortisol, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT increased in all the animals. However, total proteins and albumin decreased in the 3 groups. The plasma electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride did not show any significant change. The results of this study indicated a possible additive analgesic interaction between epidurally administered xylazine and lignocaine, without causing any marked systemic effects in water buffalo calves.
Highlights
Xylazine, an alpha2-agonist, has been used to induce sacrococcygeal/lumbosacral epidural/spinal analgesia in different species of domestic animals[12,19,30]
Epidural analgesia induced by alpha2agonists is superior to that induced by anaesthetic agents commonly used to provide local anaesthesia for surgery in standing cattle, because it has a prolonged duration of action and decreased disruption of the motor function of the hind limbs[12]
Animals in group C showed complete analgesia in the area of the thorax, flank, inguinal region and hind limbs from 45 to 90 min; thereafter it declined and moderate to mild analgesia were persisted till the end of observation (Figs 2–5)
Summary
An alpha2-agonist, has been used to induce sacrococcygeal/lumbosacral epidural/spinal analgesia in different species of domestic animals[12,19,30]. Epidural analgesia induced by alpha2agonists is superior to that induced by anaesthetic agents commonly used to provide local anaesthesia for surgery in standing cattle, because it has a prolonged duration of action and decreased disruption of the motor function of the hind limbs[12]. In these studies it was reported that the onset of action of epidural xylazine was delayed. A aDivision of Surgery, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar – 243 122 (U P), India
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
